After School Matters® Offering Remote Program Opportunities to 10,000 Chicago Teens this Summer

June 5, 2020

Media Contact: Mallory Zapata, Communications Manager, 773-791-3520 | mzapata@afterschoolmatters.org

#ASMTogether video here. 

More than 400 remote programs in the arts, communications and leadership, sports and STEM available to teens across Chicago 

 CHICAGO—After School Matters® is re-envisioning summer programs to provide safe, equitable and innovative remote learning opportunities during the pandemic to support up to 10,000 Chicago teens, build bridges across the city and increase accessibility. Students can apply now to more than 400 programs in the arts, communications and leadership, sports and STEM that begin the week of July 6.  

Chicago high school students can search and apply for programs at afterschoolmatters.org. This mobile-friendly application includes an interactive map to help teens search for programs, as well as a full Spanish translation feature. All remote summer programs are paid apprenticeships and internships. Teens will earn a stipend between $336 and $850 depending on the length and level of expertise required for the program. 

 “After School Matters is on the frontlines of supporting Chicago teens and their communities. The myriad challenges facing our city are falling hardest on our youth and communities of color, and as the largest after school and summer program provider for Chicago teens, After School Matters teens are seeing and feeling this impact first-hand,” said CEO Mary Ellen Caron. “Now more than ever, Chicago teens need paid opportunities to create and express themselves while gaining critical skills which will prepare them for college, careers and beyond. For 30 years, After School Matters has advocated for Chicago teens, and we’re building on that commitment this summer through this new, remote and accessible program model.” 

While programs will look different this summer, they still offer teens the chance to expand their subject-matter specific skills, while developing critical thinking proficiencies in collaboration, problem-solving, social awareness and more. Remote programs offer a combination of one-on-one time with instructors, group collaboration as well as individual work time to achieve various projects. Teens who need access to technology will be able to acquire devices through After School Matters.  

After school programs have been a crucial part of the COVID-19 response, adapting services to meet youth and community needs, offering social-emotional supports, and filling the education gap through virtual programming. Multiple independent studies have confirmed teens who participate in After School Matters programs have higher Freshmen On-Track rates, improved school-day attendance and higher graduation rates than their peers.  

As we collectively begin to rebuild after this crisis, After School Matters remains committed to supporting Chicago teens by continuing our essential programs, providing participation stipends, along with added services, now in new and different ways. 

A few of the exciting remote programs offered this summer include:  

GlobalGirl Media  

This program develops the authentic voice and media literacy skills of underserved and underrepresented teenage girls from across Chicago by equipping them with skills and tools to consume and analyze media critically, as well as to create and share digital media content and journalism on issues and stories that impact them and their unique experiences as young women in Chicago. This summer their project will focus on creating film and audio pieces that reflect their own experiences in Chicago during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Bloom  

This visual arts program mentors youth within self-resilience, community engagement, and exploring social issues that impact them on day-to-day basis through dialogue and art. Through art, teens will explore the impact of COVID-19 within their communities, and themselves, by designing various of pieces independently while simultaneously participating in virtual dialogues, virtual group projects, and learning creative techniques to guide them in designing through instructor lead tutorials. Each youth will contribute various pieces to an online archive of youth lead artwork, all following youth lead visual art prompts that are both personal reflections and visual activism. 

Advanced Culinary Arts  

Teens will learn new culinary skills and perfect their basic techniques. They will receive training necessary to obtain jobs in the culinary hospitality industry or simply to prepare healthy and sustainable meals for themselves and their families. Teens also learn the arts and techniques of cake decorating, table setting, and catering for large groups. This summer, each teen will receive a supply kit with ingredients to make delicious meals for their families, fun challenges will be incorporated such as “secret ingredients” that will give teens an opportunity to be creative with their recipes and virtual guest judging panels will recreate fun competitive food plating challenges. 

Peacemakers  

Teens will work with their peers to stop the violence and make a positive contribution to their community. Peacemakers will learn about the peace building process, reflect on their communities, recognize their roles as peacemakers, and design a project to spread the message of peace. Young people in this program will gain an understanding of the peace-making process and youth empowerment. 

Astronomy & Space  

In this program teens will learn about urban astronomy, celestial bodies, viewing and discussing space themed films, conduct physics experiments, study NASA and manned space travel/rocketry, and learn about careers in the astronomy and space field. By the end of the session, teens will be prepared to present and display newly gained astronomical knowledge for their friends and their family.  

Teens can search and apply for summer 2020 remote programs at afterschoolmatters.org. All After School Matters programs are free and open to Chicago high school students who are at least 14 years old (16 years old for internships). As part of the application process, teens interview with program instructors to discuss their interests. Teens are encouraged to apply early, as program opportunities fill up quickly.  

For questions about programs and applications, call 312-742-4182 or email applications@afterschoolmatters.org. Para mas información en Español llámenos al 312-846-7106 o mándenos un correo electrónico al espanol@afterschoolmatters.org. 

 For more information, visit www.afterschoolmatters.org.  

 ~~~ 

 About After School Matters 

After School Matters provides Chicago high school teens with high quality, after-school and summer opportunities to explore and develop their talents while gaining critical skills for work, college and beyond. Since 1991, After School Matters has offered more than 350,000 opportunities to teens, helping them gain valuable knowledge and skills which have helped them discover their passion in life. Programs take place at locations throughout the city including Chicago public high schools, Chicago Park District and Chicago Public Library locations, community organizations, downtown at the Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, in Belmont Cragin at our Michael and Karyn Lutz Center for After School Matters and at our new After School Matters at Gately Park space. For more information, visit www.afterschoolmatters.org. 

 

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